Well, now that I’m fairly comfortable with the layout and construction of the cabinet it was time to tear things apart and get some actual measurements and formulate a material list and plan of attack (much easier to tear virtual cabinets apart!).
After saving the Sketchup plan as another file I start removing unnecessary and duplicate items and start putting-in some dimensions. The pictures should show most if not all of the dimensions I used, but I can’t say for sure since I have to rotate everything around to get to all the surfaces I need to measure.
With the dimensions I need I open Excel and put together a spreadsheet listing all the parts I need along with the material, dimensions, quantity, and a part label.
Now, it’s back to Sketchup where I mock-up some sheet goods and 2×4’s and try to fit all the pieces where I can minimize waste. I butt all the pieces together in Sketchup, but it’s important to account for the saw kerf and make sure you have enough extra material to account for the number of cuts. If you’re putting 8 pieces across a 4’ span and only leave 1/2” extra you’re not going to have enough!
I then have an idea of what kind of raw material I need, and I list the needed items at the bottom of my material list along with some pricing to get an idea of what I’m going to spend. I don’t have every item on the list, since I already have some of the material I need (screws, piano hinges, etc).
I’d attach links to the actual Sketchup and Excel files, but until I actually get the cabinet built I consider them to be a “work in progress”. Once I’m done I’ll modify them as needed and make them available in case anyone’s interested.
8 comments so far
GaryK
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8183 posts in 377 days
posted 74 days ago
That’s an “excel”ent job sorting things out like that!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
sIKE
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228 posts in 142 days
posted 74 days ago
Man this project looks great, I went back and read the previous post and read it. I too have made the same outfeed table. The table I made is much longer than the one you made as my saw has 52” inch rails. So this project in itself is out of the question for me, but looking at the idea as presented is very exicting.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Grant Davis
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261 posts in 297 days
posted 74 days ago
Where is my to do lit. I have another entry to add to it. Sweeeeeeeeeeeet design and execution of the plans.
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
motthunter
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950 posts in 187 days
posted 73 days ago
really cool. congrats. planning takes a while but usually ends up saving time
-- making sawdust....
Scott Bryan
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7769 posts in 210 days
posted 73 days ago
You have done a great job with planning this project. I will be interested in seeing the construction posts as well.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Mark Shymanski
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237 posts in 101 days
posted 73 days ago
Do you consider the orientation of the grain on the outer veneer on the ply when you lay out the pieces? I’ve only built one bookcase out of oak ply and I know sorting the grain to finally look good upped the estimate of how much ply was needed.
Awesome layout and Excel stuff, I am looking forward to the complete SU model.
-- cough...cough....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark
Greg Wurst
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248 posts in 221 days
posted 73 days ago
The only readily visible birch pieces are the sides and middle cabinet top, and they all have the grain oriented in a pleasing fashion. The top, back, and all drawers and fronts are MDF so grain isn’t important. Some of the interior braces and drawer separators will have non-optimal grain orientation, but they aren’t visible normally and since this is shop furniture I’m not overly concerned. I doubt I’ll even put any kind of finish on it, although I may paint the whole thing white if I’m feeling ambitious. I’ve seen some shop furniture on here that looks better than some of the stuff I have in my house, but I don’t plan on putting that amount of effort into it.
john kasparian
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2 posts in 41 days
posted 41 days ago
I have waited for a while to join lumberjocks.com because I am new at this and did not feel worthy. But this post and work behind it made me do it, just to say this. Thanks!
-- john